Orange Oil
Sweet orange and bitter orange essential oils compared plainly: names, sun sensitivity, skin and poison-center cautions, and what small aromatherapy trials found.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first. Orange oils are for the air or diluted skin contact as sources describe, never for swallowing. The FDA notes that certain citrus oils used safely in food can be harmful in cosmetics, particularly on skin exposed to the sun. [1] If someone swallows any essential oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222; call 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. [2] Bitter orange oil in particular contained large amounts of a phototoxic compound in one laboratory analysis (below). See Phototoxicity: citrus oils and sunlight.
Two oils, two names
"Orange oil" can mean two different oils.- Sweet orange oil, usually labeled Citrus sinensis (Mill.) Pers.
- Bitter orange oil, from bitter orange, Citrus × aurantium L..
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) currently lists Citrus sinensis as a synonym of Citrus × aurantium, so databases and product labels do not always agree. [3] Trials and labels still use the older separate names, so this page keeps them apart and says which one each study used. The NCCIH says the bitter orange tree is native to Southeast Asia, and that its fruit, peel and essential oils are used in cooking, as flavorings and in perfumes. [4] A side-by-side view is in Sweet vs bitter orange oil.
Bitter orange dietary supplements (taken by mouth, often for weight loss) are a different product. NCCIH describes serious concerns about them, including reports of abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks and strokes, mostly with multi-ingredient products. [4] Those concerns are not evidence about the oil,.
Phototoxicity: what is known for each
In a 1985 laboratory analysis of citrus oils, lime oil and bitter-orange oil contained large amounts of oxypeucedanin, a compound that can cause photopigmentation (skin darkening) on guinea pig skin. [5] In a 2007 laboratory test using human red blood cells, orange oil (type not specified) produced moderate UVA-induced haemolysis (breakdown of the red blood cells); the authors concluded that some, but not all, fragrances show phototoxic effects in vitro. [6] Whether sweet orange oil used on skin in real life carries the same risk as bitter orange oil: Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. We searched PubMed and the FDA, NCCIH and Poison Control pages. Until that is clear, treat any citrus oil on skin as a possible sun-sensitizer, check the maker's information and read Reading an essential oil label.Skin irritation and allergy
Limonene is a common fragrance ingredient that readily oxidizes on exposure to air. In a US patch-test study of people already suspected of fragrance allergy, 8% (7 of 90 tested) reacted to oxidized limonene. [7] Poison Control says allergy to an essential oil is a very real possibility and that a rash means stopping the product and gently washing it off. [2] NCCIH describes bitter orange oil as generally well tolerated on the skin or in aromatherapy, which is a general statement and not a guarantee for any one person. [4] See Patch testing and what to do after a reaction.What research shows
Aromatherapy trials are small, short and hard to blind, because people can smell what they receive. Most outcomes are self-reported.| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| General health use of bitter orange | NCCIH: bitter orange has not been clearly shown to be helpful for any health-related purpose. [4] | Insufficient evidence | Mostly supplements |
| Aromatherapy for anxiety or insomnia (bitter orange) | NCCIH: unclear whether this is beneficial. [4] | Insufficient evidence | Aromatherapy |
| Anxiety (citrus aurantium) | A network meta-analysis of 44 randomized trials reported Citrus aurantium oil among the larger reductions in anxiety scores; this comes from indirect comparisons of small trials. [8] | Promising but limited | Adults with anxiety |
| Pain and anxiety in labor (sweet orange) | A single-blind trial of 84 women found lower pain and anxiety scores with inhaled C. sinensis than distilled water. [9] | Promising but limited | Women in labor; inhaled |
| Chemotherapy nausea (C. aurantium) | In a trial of 92 women with breast cancer, scores were lower on days 3 to 5, not days 1 and 2, with inhaled oil on top of standard anti-nausea medicines. [10] | Promising but limited | Women having chemotherapy |
| Skin fungal infections (bitter orange oil) | NCCIH: the single study had no comparison treatment or placebo, so results are hard to interpret. [4] | Insufficient evidence | Skin application |
Neither trial above shows that orange oil treats a disease. Both measured symptom scores reported by the participants, and the labor trial was single-blind, not double-blind.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between sweet and bitter orange oil?
They come from different orange trees (sweet orange and bitter orange). Bitter orange oil is the one NCCIH discusses, and bitter-orange oil contained large amounts of a phototoxic compound in one laboratory analysis. [4] [5] Data comparing the two on skin: Proper evidence not found.
Is orange oil safe in the sun?
It cannot be assumed to be. Certain citrus oils can harm skin exposed to the sun, according to the FDA. [1]
Can orange oil be swallowed or put in water?
No advice to do so is given here. Poison Control says to call a poison center if an essential oil is swallowed. [2]
Does orange oil help anxiety?
Small trials and a meta-analysis report lower anxiety scores, but NCCIH says it is unclear whether bitter orange oil aromatherapy is beneficial. [8] [4]
Is bitter orange oil the same as a bitter orange supplement?
No. Supplements carry reports of heart events, mostly in multi-ingredient products, and are separate from the oil. [4]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety by group
- Medicines: NCCIH advises talking with your health care provider before using bitter orange or other herbal products, because some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. [4] That statement is about herbal products broadly. See How interactions work.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: NCCIH says it may not be safe to use bitter orange during pregnancy or breastfeeding; this is stated for bitter orange products, not specifically for the oil. [4] A trial of sweet orange scent in labor exists, but it is not a safety guarantee. Ask a clinician; see Essential oils in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Babies and children: Poison Control says children have thin skin and immature livers, which might make them more susceptible to toxic effects. [2] See Essential oils around babies and children.
- Other products: Orange oil and lemon oil are common ingredients in furniture polishes and wood care products. [2] Those are not body products.
- Surgery: tell the surgical team about oils and supplements; see Before surgery.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Aromatherapy. Read 2026-10-23.
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: species name matching for Citrus limon, C. bergamia, C. x aurantium, C. sinensis, C. x paradisi, C. x aurantiifolia, C. reticulata. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Bitter Orange. Last updated November 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- A study of the phototoxicity of lemon oil. Arch Dermatol Res. 1985 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Evaluation of phototoxic properties of fragrances. Acta Derm Venereol. 2007 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Contact Allergy to Hydroperoxides of Linalool and D-Limonene in a US Population. Dermatitis. 2017 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Essential oils for treating anxiety: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and network meta-analysis. Front Public Health. 2023 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Effectiveness of aromatherapy with sweet orange oil (Citrus sinensis L.) in relieving pain and anxiety during labor. Explore (NY). 2025 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- The effect of Citrus aurantium inhalation aromatherapy on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2025 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.